but the deficit situation has now grown so bad that there's just no appetite for further borrowing at this time. >> maya macguineas runs the committee for a responsible federal budget, a bipartisan group that lobbies congress. she says uncertainty about how the government will deal with the deficit and the huge national debt is inhibiting employers from hiring. >> in the business world, there's over $2 trillion of cash sitting on the sidelines that could be used to grow the economy, make investments and create jobs. but it's not going to be invested until people know what to expect going forward in the economy. and that's why you need some kind of stability that would come from a big debt deal to help bring that about. >> in fact, unless there is a grand bargain on taxes and government spending by the end of the year, by some estimates, another 2 million people could lose their jobs beginning early next year. that's when the nation would drive off the so-called fiscal cliff. if that were to happen tax rates would go up for nearly every single income group. taxes on investment income w